Suryanarayan Mandir

“SAPREM JAI SACHHIDANAND”

Origin Story

Some Important Things About Kelve-Mahim

Nestled within the green belt of north Konkan division in the Palghar district and set amongst dense vegetation of coconut, jackfruit & banana trees lie the erst while quaint village of Mahikavti - today known as Kelve-Mahim. It is within these quiet environs that the resplendent Suryanarayana temple got established in July 1906 along the banks of the expansive Arabian Sea.
Kelve-Mahim is drivable and only 8 kilometers from Palghar railway station on the Western Railway. This village has long been known for its export trade of nagaveli leaves, betel nut, coconut and banana produce.

Born & raised in the village of Kelve-Mahim within the Hindu Panchal Samaj & sub caste of carpentry to Mr. Trayambak Lokhande were two industrious boys known as Laxman & Pandurang. Both the kids grew up to be hard working & obedient learners of the carpentry trade and their professional fame spread amongst neighboring villages. The two brothers also grew up to be devout and spiritual under the guidance of their father.

During their life journey, the brothers learnt of a holy sage who’d arrived in the state - from their friends in faith namely Shri Mangalya Kambu Patil of Agrawadi and Shri Janardan Jaitu Patil of Tembhode and many other acquaintances. These folks had recently accepted initiation in the faith from their revered Sadguru Padmanabhacharya Swami a renowned seer of that time. The brothers Laxman & Pandurang Lokhande beseeched their friends to invite the great Seer Padmanabhswamy to their town of Kelve-Mahim such that the residents would also receive the divine grace. As god willed it, it happened in 1903 through the effort of Shri Mangalya Patil and Shri Jaitu Patil who escorted the great Sadguru Swami to the village of Kelwe-Mahim to the utter delight of the residents.

It is said ‘when the student is ready – the Master appears”. This was true in the case of the Lokhande brothers, whose inquisitive stance constantly prompted them to dwell in the name of the divine Lord and search for greater meaning in the religious texts of the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Dnyaneshwari, Dasbodh & Tukaram's saga. Their religious immersion created such a divine samskara that the Master eventually arrived to satiate their hunger for enlightenment. With great enthusiasm the Lokhande brothers sought to quench their spiritual thirst at the feet of their Sadguru Padmanabha and the Sadguru was only too happy to clarify & bless them with the secretive & Upananishadic knowledge of creation, growth and purpose of life.

Religious Ceremonies

Several religious ceremonies are conducted in the temple complex every year

1. Shri Suryanarayana Janma Utsav- Magh Shuddha Saptami (Jan or Feb)
2. Holi Utsav i.e. Agni Narayan Janmautsav - Falgun Shuddha Purnima (march)
3. Watapurnima puja – Jyeshtha (June)
4. Yagyopavitdharana - Narli Purnima of Shravana (August)
5. Hartalika Puja - Bhadrapada (September)

Initiation

In 1903 with the divine grace of the Satguru Padmanabh swami, the Lokhande brothers were initiated as disciple with a new spiritual identity signifying their initiation. The brothers i.e. Shri Pandurang Tryambak Lokhande was initiated as Gautam Swami and Shri Laxman Trayambak Lokhande was initiated as Krishnabharti Swami by their Sadguru. The deep commitment of the Lokhande brothers to the principles of the Padmanabh swami sect were felt by their Guru, who blessed them to establish a temple dedicated to the Sun Lord in the quaint village environs. While elated at being entrusted with the noble task, the brothers realized the enormity of this project & approached the Satguru for guidance, who then explained to them that the Divine Lord showers His grace upon any commitment in the pursuit of the Truth. “Just take His name and take the first step” said the Satguru.

Legacy of Lokhande brothers

For the past one hundred and fifteen years the Lokhande family line has consistently conducted worship rituals in the Suryanarayana temple which has witnessed many transitions in the temple complex. Initially, the temple was housed in a small property and over the years the temple complex grew in size and structure. The idols were beautified, and the decoration was upgraded with new conveniences added resulting in a temple that’s a sight to behold. Every morning and evening there are the ritual puja archana and every Thursday a Satsang & kirtan-lecture is conducted. Anointing of the deity is done and this has led to the desire’s fulfillment of many a devotee who worshiped Suryanarayana. The thankful seekers come back to prostrate at the feet of the Lord and the number of devotees has only increased by the day.

What Our Temple Do

Since the establishment of the Surya Narayan Temple, the Lokhande family line have ploughed in their earnings into the service of the Temple, its daily rituals and the annual festivals. As the number of devotees started to increase every year, to manage the process the samaj set up a body called the "Brahma Vanshya Panchal Brahmin Dharmasanstha" in 1930. Shri Raghunath Pandurang Bhanu served as the first Chairperson of this body. Thereafter, Shri Pandurang Balwant Chandane from Nalasopara, Shri Purushottam Vaman Sahamate of Chinchani, Shri Chiman Pitambar Amre of Palghar, Shri Bhau Raghunath Bhanu of Tembhode, Shri Keshav Bhaskar Vartak of Mahim and Shri Dwarkanath Kaluram Shetye of Bhiwandi presided over the Dharma Sanstha. Also, Shri Jairam Pandurang Lokhande, Shri Laxman Anant Lokhande and Shri Harishchandra Kashinath Bane of Chinchani had served as the Secretary of the dharma sanstha. All the above-listed honorable individuals served the organization selflessly, giving their Seva for the propagation of the Suryanarayana sect and its benevolent principles in the upliftment of the society.

Our History